Florida maintains power and growth as a tourist, retirement destination

Despite the dropping real estate market, hurricanes and gas prices, many resident Floridians couldn't see themselves anywhere else. Friends Kelly Taylor, left, Shauna Kreher, middle, and Elizabeth Solomon, right, all became friends at Bonita Beach, a place they call their second home. Kreher and Solomon came to Florida less than a year ago for teaching positions and Solomon plans on retiring here. "Real estate prices are the same, gas prices are higher, and it's cold there" said Kreher referring to Chicago, her last residence. Michel Fortier/Staff

If nothing else, Southwest Florida will always have good weather.

Lee and Collier counties, much like the rest of the country, have been facing tough times over the past year. But even as stories of woe and downturn become more frequent, this little corner of the Sunshine State is still a draw for people wanting to vacation, relocate and continue their lives in paradise.

The real estate market is bottoming out, gas prices are at an all-time high, crime is on the rise, companies are shutting down or laying off employees, a high number of hurricanes are predicted for this year, the repossession business is booming, traffic construction and congestion are daily headaches, and governments are slashing budgets and cutting services.

And it's summer, the time of year when it is so hot that the part-time residents flee for the more temperate weather of the north.

But a dog day in paradise is still a day in paradise.

"Real estate is doing the same thing in Chicago, gas prices are higher there, and it is cold there," said Bonita Springs resident Shauna Kreher, a teacher at North Naples Middle School, who relocated from Illinois.

The weather always will be Florida's advantage over the states to the north. The sun shines practically every day, the temperature rarely drops below 70 degrees, and if it gets too hot, the beach and the Gulf of Mexico are a short trip away.

The majority of Southwest Florida residents moved here from somewhere else, typically a northern state. While the reasons vary, Florida's sunshine, warm temperatures and complete lack of snow, sleet, freezing rain or cold are major contributing factors.

"I have the same problem I had in Virginia. Early every morning, I've got to get up, take a stiff broom and brush all the sunshine off my windshield," said Bill Hanson, who lives in the Tampa area and frequently visits Lee County.

Southwest Florida's economy is much worse than a few years ago. The crash in the housing market spread to other industries like construction, real estate and government, and the generally tough economic times across the country and the world has cut down on tourism and its related industries. The build up during the construction boom of a few years ago has left more businesses vying for customers.

Even with all that bad news, Southwest Florida still has a growing population and remains a tourist destination.

"Our business is here because of the growth," said Valheriee Royce, who co-owns Dippity Dawg at the Coconut Point mall. "There is still 20,000 people a year moving here."

Dippity Dawg is undergoing an expansion at Coconut Point, moving to a larger location on the mall's property.

Patricia Buitrago was born in Fort Myers and has lived in Southwest Florida her whole life. She's never had plans to leave even after the population explosion brought positive and negative changes to the area.

"It is just as appealing," Buitrago said. "However, they still need things for young people to do."

While Southwest Florida has beaches, shopping, the ocean and other outdoor activities, the median age in Lee and Collier — 42.6 and 43.5 years old, respectively — is still well above the national median age — 36.4 — and the area's activities are geared toward an older clientele.

"As opposed to the New Jersey shore, which is what we are used to, there's not a lot to do for teenagers," said Brian Ricker, who was visiting Bonita Springs and Naples with his family. "Other than that, we have no complaints. We'll be back."

Like Buitrago, Lauren Christman was also born in Fort Myers and has lived in Southwest Florida her whole life. Once high school is over, she'll go to a design college in Georgia and plans to travel the world after graduation. After she's had her fill of the world, Christman plans to return to Southwest Florida where her family lives and open up a wedding dress design store.

"I like being here," Christman said. "Plus, I like all the gardening you can do here. You can do it almost all year."

The same factors that keep residents in Southwest Florida also bring visitors to Southwest Florida, and even as gas prices and a sluggish economy have cut down on vacationing, factors like good weather and beaches don't change.

"You've got the ocean, you've got the bay, you've got deep-sea fishing," said Vince Wood, who is visiting Bonita Springs from Georgia. "It seems like we always have really good weather."

Even when the news is bad, the Southwest Florida sun is shining, the population is growing and the beach is calling, and that's where Florida has a leg up on the competition.